Wednesday, October 29, 2008

The elections are less than a week away, so even though you may be getting sick of my posts, I feel like there is a sense of urgency about this stuff, so I just wanted to pass along a couple more things that I think are important.First, I am sure you are aware that none of the third party/independent candidates were allowed at the Presidential debates. This is because the debate commission is a private, corporate entity headed by former heads of the Republican and Democratic National Committees, and they make it pretty much impossible for any other candidate to be included (another good reason to dismantle this corporate duopoly). Luckily there is an organization called Free and Equal Elections that has been organizing some third party debates under the premise that free and equal elections are guaranteed in the constitution (see Article I: Section 3). You can watch a debate that aired on C-SPAN a week or so ago between Constitution Party Presidential candidate, Chuck Baldwin, and independent Presidential candidate, Ralph Nader, on cspanjunkie.org.

Also, Raplh Nader's running mate, Matt Gonzalez, recently posted an article exposing many of the lies and capitulations of Obama and the Democratic Party. I don't think it's necessary to enumerate the crimes and gross errors of the Republican Party, they are all very obvious, but sometimes we need to be reminded that the Democrats are just as guilty and have committed countless atrocities of their own and that there is really no difference between the two - they are after all, as Noam Chomsky said, just two factions of the Business Party. So, what else do they have to do before they finally lose your vote? You can read the entire article here; it's pretty long (as there are many things to expose) but it's worth reading. Here are a few paragraphs from it:

"[Democrats] also like to say that voting for Nader is throwing your vote away. The Democrats often cite the 2000 election to blame Nader for Bush’s victory. But they noticeably never mention the 1992 election, when Bill Clinton won because Ross Perot 'spoiled' the race for George Bush’s father, an incumbent president. By the way, Clinton got only 43 percent of the vote in 1992 compared to 48 percent by Bush in 2000.

"And they offer no explanation for why they haven’t worked on election reform since 2000. Imagine claiming your political party lost the presidency because the 'winner' was declared even though he hadn’t won a majority of the votes cast? Then imagine doing nothing to make sure it wouldn’t happen again. Isn’t it odd that the Democrats haven’t worked on election reform in the past eight years?

"They never will change the system because the way things are now, they can be assured that they will be in office roughly half the time. They also count on people to accept their arguments that Nader and other third parties aren’t polling high enough to get your vote; that the real contest is between just two candidates.

"If all else fails, they argue that it’s the most important election of your lifetime. I’m 43 years old and I’ve heard this argument each time the presidential race has come up.

"If you accept these arguments, you are in effect rewarding the two parties for not fixing how we do elections in this country. You reward them for creating the Commission on Debates. You guarantee that things will not change. And you ensure that candidates that support single-payer health care, decent wages and pensions for workers, controls on corporations and a foreign policy based on achieving peace rather than driven by self-interest, cannot ever be heard.

"Nader wants a more humane and democratic society. He’s seen that you can’t get anything done in Washington because senators like Obama and McCain ignore what’s good for Americans in pursuit of their own interests. Sure McCain talks like a maverick and Obama talks like a revolutionary, but look closely and you will see repeated capitulations to the very entities our government needs to get away from if we are to build a more democratic society."

On election day, please vote for Decentralized Government for and by the People, and not for a continuation of Centralized Corporate Rule. Say no to the lowest common denominator. Say yes to the superlative.

Saturday, October 25, 2008

NO to the RepublicratsNo to the DemicansYES to the PeopleYES to INDEPENDENT

NO to the CorporacratsNO to Big MoneyYES to the PeopleYES to INDEPENDENT

NO to the KleptocratsNO to the Fat CatsYES to the People YES to INDEPENDENT

NO to Big LobbyNO to Corporate EndorsementsYES to the PeopleYES to INDEPENDENT

NO to Endless WarNO to "Foreign Enemies"YES to the People YES to INDEPENDENT

NO to Broken EconomyNO to Job LossesYES to the PeopleYES to INDEPENDENT

NO to the Corporate FutureNO to the Corporate TakeoverYES to the People YES to INDEPENDENT

PLEASE, THINK ABOUT IT.THE CORPORATE FUTURE ABOUNDS.BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO.LEGIONS OF YOUNG VOTERS DO NOT HAVE TO BE DISILLUSIONED.THERE ARE VOICES AGAINST THE POWERFULL.SEEK OUT THE INDEPENDENTS.LISTEN TO THEIR MESSAGES.CHOOSE THE PEOPLE...NOT THE POWERFUL.VOTE INDEPENDENT. PLEASE.

I realize that ANARCHY is our ultimate goal, but how else are we going to get there if we don't get these KLEPTOCRATS/BIG LOBBY SYMPATHIZERS out of power. YES to the PEOPLE. YES to INDEPENDENT. That is my plea. I make it in earnest. Please vote your conscience and not the lesser of two evils. Read the constitution; I know it will depress you, but do it. We have lost sight of our goal: Of the people, by the people, for the people - NOT of the corporations, by the Demicans, for the Republicrats. Vote for the people. Vote independent. PLEASE.

That's all for now. HAPPY HALLOWEEN. (end corporate rule, i beg of you...)

Friday, October 17, 2008

The Presidential elections are coming up, so I guess I better put my two cents in. I am not in any position to tell anyone how to vote, people should vote their conscience, and that’s a personal choice. Nor do I know for sure if voting really even counts for anything (remember what happened in 2000?); the jury is still out on that one. What I do know is that things are wrong and stuff is broken, and something has got to change, radically and thoroughly. We need a revamping. A complete overhaul.

It was Noam Chomsky who said, “the United States effectively has a one-party system, the business party, with two factions, Republicans and Democrats.”

I have never considered myself a member of any specific political party. And like many people (perhaps even most people), I am tired of this corporate duoply. Personally, I believe that if votes are going to be cast, they should be cast for independent candidates. Unless you whole-heartedly believe in what either the Democrats or the Republicans stand for, don’t vote for them. Why perpetuate this sick and sorry tradition of voting for the lesser of two evils? I wouldn’t be able to feel good about myself if I voted for someone who I didn’t fully believe in under the premise that, well, at least he/she is better than the alternative. Vote your conscience. Take pride in your decision. Stand up for your beliefs, and don’t back down. Don’t settle.

This country will never have a viable third party (or a second party if you consider what Chomsky said), if people don’t first begin to cast their votes for independent candidates. Consider this, if all you watch, listen to or read is mainstream news, you would most likely never know that there are actually several other candidates running for President besides just ObaMcCain. The corporations have taken over, and the Republicrats (aka Kleptocrats) are fully entrenched in the corporate army. It’s time for something different, don’t you think?

A few demands:

-Kick the crooks out of Washington.

-Reverse gangster capitalism.

-Give the people the power that the Constitution guarantees them.

-Smash the corporate duopoly.

“A vote cast for a Republican or a Democrat is a wasted vote because it ensures that nothing will change.” –Bob Barr, Libertarian Presidential Candidate

Thursday, October 09, 2008

I read an awesome zine recently that I highly recommend. It's called Painting Over a Dead End City #1. There is lots of great stuff in it, like thoughts on the idea about how anarchism isn't so much about overthrowing government but outgrowing it and how girls can be pirates, too. But there was one thing that stood out to me the most - something that I can really relate to. Here is a quote:

"Social anxiety and community organizing are such a clumsy mix. I want to be a good ally to so many people and organizations working for equality, but my attempts at building community sometimes seem quite ridiculous when I'm fearful of things like calling even my good friends."

I want to be a part of the brave new world, fighting for justice and building community, but I too, am thwarted by my extreme introversion. It's a contradiction to say the very least. This has become all too evident now that I have been made president of the Soil Stewards Organic Farming Club. It has been incredibly taxing for me. I do just fine when all I have to do is volunteer a few hours of my time working on the farm or setting up and taking down our table for different events, but put me in charge and in the spotlight and all of my weaknesses come shining through quite vividly. The good thing is that the Soil Stewards are mostly made up of socially awkward folks (which is part of the reason why I fit in with them so well), still I find myself exhausted at the end of the day, not physically (or even mentally, really) but emotionally. Being the guy in charge is draining, and I'm just not cut out for it. So, I have to admit that I felt encouraged when I read Nicki's zine and was reminded that I'm not the only one. Therefore, I'll keep fighting the good fight, because it's worth it. Meanwhile, you should see if you can get a copy of her zine by sending a buck or something to:Nicki S., PO Box 1122, Spokane WA 99210

Have you heard of a band called Fleet Foxes? They have an amazing album out that is definitely worth a listen. If you like My Morning Jacket and Band of Horses, I'm sure you'll like Fleet Foxes. Look them up. Their music will move you.

Also, I've been listening to The Mountain Goats a lot lately. I don't know why. I guess it's just that time of year.

"that's not music you hear, that's the devilthat's not the sun up in the sky, it's a human heart"--The Mountain Goats